Online Graduate Pharmacology Course
(for college credit)

Title: Advanced Pharmacologic Applications in Primary Care 

Credit Hours: 3

Pre- or Co-requisite: Graduate status and graduate pathophysiology course 

Course Description: This course is designed to prepare clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and midwives to accurately describe, administer, and counsel patients regarding appropriate and safe medication regimens. In addition nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists will be prepared for medication prescriptive authority within their scope of practice. Basic pharmacologic principles and the pharmacologic actions of the major drug classes will be discussed in relation to physiologic systems, with emphasis on the application of these agents.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• explain the basic principles of pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics;
• describe the most commonly prescribed agents in the major drug classes;
• explain the mechanism of action of the major drug classes;
• analyze the adverse effect and drug interaction profiles of the major drug classes and individual drugs within these classes;
• make appropriate therapeutic treatment decisions for individual patients utilizing drugs from the major drug classes; and
• apply the laws governing the prescribing of drugs when writing prescriptions.

FACULTY:   Mikael D. Jones, Pharm.D., B.C.P.S. 
                      Assistant Professor
                      Colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing
                      University of Kentucky
                      Lexington, KY  40536-0082
                      Phone: 859-257-6265 Email: mjone5@email.uky.edu

TEACHING/LEARNING METHODS: This is a self-directed learning using core PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Web sites, and case-solving activities. Students must have access to computer facilities, the Internet, a web browser that is equivalent to Internet 5 Explorer or higher, an e-mail address, and a printer.

EXAMINATIONS AND EVALUATIONS: Each unit will have an examination consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. A comprehensive final exam must also be completed at the end of the course. The questions will test both understanding and application of the unit material.

GRADING SCALE:             
Unit examinations (14 units x 10 points each)  140 points
Final assessments                                                  70 points       
                                                                                _________
TOTAL                                                                     210 points

The total score will be reported to your institution as a percentage. Your institution will assign the final letter grade that you earned for the course. 

CLASS TIMES: This is a Web course and will use a distance learning format, using assigned Web sites, core PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, textbook reading assignments and other self-directed learning activities.  

SUGGESTED TEXTS:   
Katzung (2007). "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology," 10th edition. Lange Medical Books, McGraw-Hill.
"Drug Information Handbook for Advanced Practice Nursing," 7th edition. Lexi-Comp, Inc.
Reading assignments made from the Katzung textbook "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology" are intended to supplement student comprehension of assigned learning units.

CORE LEARNING UNIT MATERIALS: Units will be available online with continued availability. Assigned readings in the Katzung text are intended to supplement student comprehension of assigned learning units.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Contact: Melissa Bolin (859) 323-3851 or melissa.bolin@uky.edu